How The "Next Klay Thompson" Failed In The NBA

Nik Stauskas was a highly regarded prospect coming into the NBA. Many compared his skillset to that of Klay Thompson, but of course...he didn't come close to living up to his potential. What happened?
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► Twitter: @AndyHoopsYT
► Music:
On The Cool Side by Kevin MacLeod
Eternity by Kevin MacLeod
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Find all of his songs and download them for free here: incompetech.com
► Sources:
Stats and box-scores from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, Statmuse.com
www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kin...
www.mlive.com/wolverines/2014...
www.inquirer.com/philly/sport...
#nba

[@brucelau2023]

Remember that game of Zones reference “good luck in Cleveland Nik” !!! 😂😂😂😂

[@frozone2589]

yeah😂

[@whatssogoodaboutindy6696]

I forgot which episode was that, though I remember that line. I hope they change their minds and bring Game of Zones back.

[@gravityfel7896]

@@whatssogoodaboutindy6696 kinda hard for the creators to bring it back with the genuine show having already ended so they don't have anything to base their scenes on.

[@whatssogoodaboutindy6696]

@@gravityfel7896 I'm not expecting it but I'll appreciate it.

[@whatssogoodaboutindy6696]

Nevermind it was Trail Blazers Friendly Environment episode. The Blazers are no more.

[@iainbrewin]

Honestly dont think its fair to call anyone drafted by the Kings a bust. That franchise is a bust... wish things were better for Sauce!!

[@youngnebula187]

Agreed they don't have a clue (Divac)

[@ScottySkilz1]

you cant put all the blame on one thing.....the player got minutes and didnt play well at all. He had Cousins feeding him wide open jumpers and brick.

[@frozone2589]

they need to hire better staff, ones who can actually help develop players. Demarcus Cousins, De'aaron Fox, and Tyrese Halliburton are their exceptions tho.

[@GhosfFace_AO]

@@ScottySkilz1 bruhhh. You have to eventually question the organization. Waaaaay too many greats have gone through there only to get the life sucked out of them. They’re like a really shitty farm team.

[@richter9485]

@@ScottySkilz1 If you as an org keep tanking and getting lucky enough to draft high picks with good players all around. Then immediately turn around and trade them or fail to develop so many talents? At some point you have to put blame on the staff and GM.

[@robertolebron2296]

When you hear those trumpets. It’s official that his career is pretty much over for Nik

[@whatssogoodaboutindy6696]

Lmao. Andy's background music sounds like an Aloe Blacc song or something.

[@jeremy14k]

boston just signed him 👀

[@tristancampbell4941]

"Good luck in Cleveland, Nik!" Famous last words

[@alexmarshall2015]

I love seeing another Game of Zones fan

[@brucelau2023]

“I understood that reference” and also Game Of Zones

[@tristancampbell4941]

@@alexmarshall2015 I wish they kept it going

[@tristancampbell4941]

@@brucelau2023 Too bad they had to end it. Story lines for this year have been crazy.

[@onaebodaghe]

Sauce Castillo🔥🔥 he even had Klay’s number in Philly

[@guangyoucheng]

As a kings fan, nick sauce is just merely one of the MANY blunders this team has made over the last two decades

[@amixofamix6443]

I remember before how underwhelming he was shown to be, he had a decent 3pt rating in 2k15 and 16 for how cheap he was so I picked him up in mygm all the time

[@FecalMatador]

When I first started playing myteam in 2k15, I think He was like a bronze card but had an 80 for his 3 pt. Him and JR smith carried me through the low ranks xD. He was a bronze baller

[@szn566]

He was automatic on 2k

[@puddlespuddles5208]

The king's front office (also known as the Sacramento Circus) spent six figures on a consulting firm to help them find the right pick in this draft and their analysis showed that they were best off picking Elfried Payton and the Kings Front Office ignored them. Classic, the Kings franchise is a fucking joke and I sincerely hope talent doesn't go there anymore. I feel bad for kings fans but it is time to uproot the team and move them to Seattle (much better sports town anyway imho).

[@coolguy5412]

Because moving the team completely changes the front office?

[@TOGGGAA1]

You should instead be blaming the NBA for fixing the western conference finals between the Kings and the Lakers in 2001. The franchise never recovered after that. It was such a disgusting way to expose the league too.

[@SaturdayStunned]

@@TOGGGAA1 cry 😢

[@TOGGGAA1]

@@SaturdayStunned ……What? No one upset here lol just stating facts. Can tell you’re a 15yo from your response though lmao

[@Htiy]

@@TOGGGAA1 lol that was terrible but the kings could've easily rebuilt the last 20 years if they weren't stupid

[@kylegough936]

Met him in Toronto during the raptors championship run, he’s a class act. I’ve got nothing but respect for this dude

[@OK-yy6qz]

"An era that the kings had no idea what they were doing" So basically anywhere between 2006 and this year.

[@RandomBurner]

Could have been a Joe Harris at best

[@danielvasquez3758]

Man 2002 really cursed the Kings!! That’ll be the closest they’ll ever be to a championship!! If only they called it fairly!!

[@reidb6327]

😭

[@xstriker7356]

Their front office is ass

[@ThaTruth223]

at some point that shit gotten be let go of, two decades later and this is talked about like it happened recently

[@reidb6327]

@@ThaTruth223 they still suck 🤣

[@dc7993]

@@reidb6327 they really in ur head rent free huh

[@CSTLW]

I would love if you made a video on the "street-ball" era just a few years ago, where allonzo trier was looking like the rookie of the year, and antonio blakeney and walt lemon were starting for chicago. Players that were average NBA players but would have highlights every game

[@BigmeechT]

Yeah I agree, what a crazy time

[@kkrstudios]

Wow i cant believe how quickly ive forgotten about alonzo trier. He was all over the media just a year ago

[@Millennium00]

You should make that video gang

[@FecalMatador]

Only reason those guys got minutes is because both of those franchises were tanking. They had inflated numbers from playing in bad teams

[@johngittings281]

@@FecalMatador you’re definitely right but boy did Trier make the Knicks at least somewhat entertaining lol

[@WestbrickFansGotNoBrains]

Him and smart have the same problem. Always able to blow past first defender but never knew what to do wirh the help defense, and often the first defender alaays recovers to contest/bother smart shots as well.

[@nasholston5112]

Andy Hoops just gonna casually announce his place in the Jokic/Embiid argument in the first minute of the video. I mean Embiid went #3 and def has an argument that he's the best player in this draft but I guess that wouldn't have fit the tone of the video as well lol

[@toribiomendoza1347]

It’s crazy cause it’s going on 10 years and I’m still waiting for his game to transition.. damn.

[@jasonallen3678]

I didn't know the Joker was a #41 pic. I have even more appreciation for his game mow..

[@brucelau2023]

He was a second rounder

[@deantehaynes9341]

Man yesssss dig deep like this . Hate seeing the same players talked about by different ppl . This is my first time ever seeing a video about him which is very good .

[@electriceyeball]

No shit bro I'm so gd tired of KD and Kyrie

[@BurghFinsFan]

And the Kings still do not have any idea what they are doing.

[@chrome450]

The kings needs a jerry west or a bob Myers

[@KH-ou4st]

@@chrome450 They need Jesus

[@davidheinsen2309]

Lol this didn’t age well I suppose they look good now.

[@KingofAwesome09]

In order to work out in Sac, you have to have the tools to succeed bc it’s clear that if there’s any holes in your game, playing there won’t help you improve it. Their player development staff is god awful.

[@Rk-xx1sg]

@Kobe Fanforever kings are the bottom of the barrel lol it’s them.

[@Rk-xx1sg]

@Kobe Fanforever both

[@Rk-xx1sg]

@Kobe Fanforever yeah the organisation has to draft well for that to even happen mate, they do both at a all time piss poor level.

[@kumorizora2507]

It's not about the development staff, it's just a matter of the front office simply not drafting NBA-caliber talent. Most of their picks continue to not do shit under other teams' supposedly better development staff.

[@demaszstyo9644]

Might be random and unrelated, but that Stauskas Kings trade to the Sixers is what actually gave the Celtics Jayson Tatum

[@kenkaneki5655]

"What went wrong?" Well he was drafted by the king's. So yeah....

[@MrCadude]

Always love hearing that “How’s going folks!” Know I’m in for a solid video!

[@koulee4080]

He’s smaller than his measurements, he’s listed 6’7 but looks 6’4. Klay Thompson actually looks 6’7 and plays 6’7. Nik’s also a victim of not being able to transition from the college 3 to nba 3. I feel like this part of the college game needs to change because college is suppose to get you ready for the NBA. And yea he started talking shit immediately when he left the Kings and that’s all he’s really known for 😂😂

[@tommartyn524]

Adam silver is 6’3 and when they stood by each other, nick is at least 3 inches taller than him.

[@josho6854]

Nik has short arms, so plays small for his height.

[@ry_an.]

He’s got a short wingspan (only 6’7) . He definitely looks bigger than 6’4 so probably 6’6. Slow footspeed and average athleticism couldn’t bail him out on the defensive end when his shot isnt falling

[@Ryan-ts9pi]

Everybody talks shit about the Kings though they're not a great franchise to be drafted into.

[@ariefraiser140]

College is not supposed to help you get ready for the NBA. Colleges don't give coaches multimillion dollar contracts to get players ready for the NBA. They give out those contracts to coaches to win college games and ultimately the NCAA tournament, period.

[@verumaride]

Stauskas was broken in 2k15, dude was swishing every three

[@Jackey_Chen]

Atleast he’s still heavily respected

[@JHockeyFan]

Stauskas is dumb for being cocky. Not that athletic of a player in an athlete league. And if you lack explosiveness, you have to be craftier, which he was not

[@glswenson]

I’m a Portland fan so I’ll always love Stauskas for helping us spoil LeBron’s debut for the Lakers.

[@DBX95]

I really think bro watched this video and turnt up in the G-League

[@ZT2783]

For real!!!! Thought the same thing

[@tommartyn524]

Whoever compared him to klay is a fool. He never had the foot speed to be a good defender. A better comparison is Kyle korver or joe Harris, and those players are a dime a dozen

[@MuswellMunky]

Kyle Korver’s game and career would have been an absolute ceiling for Nik.

[@milesbudokai]

If you watched his ballhandling in college you’d prob compare his game to a smaller Chandler Parsons, def thought he’d end up better than Korver and Harris given how he could attack off the dribble, initiate offense and distribute

[@talkswithdante1238]

Congrats to Nik Stauskas for making the 2021-22 Nba Finals with the Celtics. (And even checking into 8 games! Good for him.) But saying those Sixer teams player are mostly out the Nba now is negligence and even a little disrespectful. Those were tryouts for young guys and a lot of them still play; First years roster- (#GP for 21-22)** Guards: Ish Smith (65) Tj Mc (27) Isiah Cannon (gone) Stauskas (6) (played more postszn games this year lol) Hollis Thompson (you tell me) Fowards: Jerami Grant and Covington. Two respectable not just rotation pieces but STARTERS on Nba teams..even one’s with playoff aspirations!! Centers: Nerlens Noel (28) (Postszn’s with okc and nyc) Jahlil Okafor: (no team 22’ played with Det 21’) Richaun Holmes: (started games in Sac) Carl Landry: lol he gone ++ these guys played the most min/games -random fun fact Christian Wood and former 6ers GM Elton Brand both checked in 17G as well that year. Yea but to say whatever you said about that Roster being basically extinguished out league is Lazy basketball knowledge. I wont even go into the next years roster since they won more games that yr and we see future MVP candiate Joel Embiid make his long awaited Nba debut and Avg 20 and 7 over 30 games in limited minutes. Anyway I been seeing Stauskas check in garbage time mins for Boston and he re-peaked my interest. Liked him out NCAA and remembered the POR game he had and wondered what his career high was? It was 24. That opening night in Portland lol. What are the chances. Always curious what happened after night? Would love to talk to a Portland guy about that. No rotation guys ever played good there. Matter fact most get better after imo. BUT HIS BLAZER GAME DOESNT EVEN GET TOUCHED IN THIS VIDEO. Do better. If I asked a 7 year old to tell me why it didnt pan out they could come up with the same stuff *wanted yo say something else* from this video from simple ass research. Brown calling out his D was only new thing and how new is that? Noone thought this man was gonna be an above avg Defender. We just hooped avg😂 also why didnt he play 20+mpg in Sac-Town? Dysfunction? That’s the reason for everything lmfao. Beat writers not putting no pressure after the game asking anything? Idk cool stuff otherwise and glad I watched the video awesome job putting everything together. Just think you missed some stuff about those rosters being extinct almost. I mean I get what your saying they stunk, but so many guys from there carved out a rotation spot from those years and Stauskas just unfortunately wasnt one of them. Even tho you think he could still be good of 10mpg of full throttle max 100% effort on both the defensive and offensive side with him playing with a quick trigger. Ladies and gentlemen. And that is why he is always a decent free agent find injury replacement in 2K

[@martuber7048]

He failed because he was drafted by the Kings in the past decade

[@nrw1802]

He played solid in Philadelphia some times. The problem in the NBA is that most of the teams are not giving much time to the players to develop.

[@brucelau2023]

ANDY HOOPS WEDNESDAYS YESSIR

[@tangypoot]

Please do a Denzel Valentine video please. Coming from a longtime Bulls fan. I think our draft misses don’t get talked about much or the ones we actually hit on outside of Mike and Rose

[@rezhaadriantanuharja3389]

Sounds like he read about mamba mentality but forgot to read further than the confidence and arrogance part

[@SvenDzahov]

I usually like more fluid jumpshots with high arc but man Nik’s jumper is beautiful

[@scamcreds]

Still remember the hype he got when he was drafted lol

[@realbooters6328]

hey andy nice video as always. but maybe you should do a “why lance stephenson is only good in indiana” video. he’s having his second best season in there and we need to know why

[@nxxdle_]

it’s no mystery, indiana is the only team that lets him play his game. every other team he’s played for has tried to fit him into a role he’s ill-equipped to fill.

[@i0nknownun]

Yes

[@i0nknownun]

@@nxxdle_ ya you right it’s like going back home playing streetball with your boys he’s already comfortable in Indiana regardless

[@MangCnasal]

I am wondering if some of these players you feature here have reach to Andy Hoops especially those that had failed in the NBA, that would be awesome.

[@brennansmith6421]

Big UMich fan, loved this guy in college … but little to no defense w/ avg athleticism … going to places that won’t develop him properly. Great video

[@irishlizard3158]

Growing Channel!

[@reidb6327]

Being drafted by the kings is a bad start

[@sarc4sm68]

Do a vid of Doug Mcdermott too i rlly think he shud be one of the best of his draft class

[@darmawan3029]

He was a stellar shooter in college, still in nba but just on a lower volume

[@militiamancampbell]

It must be so disheartening being a young kid and hearing the words "and the Sacremento Kings select" and then hearing your name

[@jason615lakers]

You give players motivation

[@Byronic19134]

The trade for Sauce Castillo is just one of many Process era moves that made Sam Hinkie an icon.

[@8301TheJMan]

Nik was a really good player with plenty of potential, but like many really good players in college who may have the skills and talent to do great in the pro's, but lack the confidence and assertiveness offensively. Not mention the fact that he only got 15 mins of playing time his rookie year and never really giving a chance after that. It didn't help his case that he struggled for three is rookie year and when he did he did get playing time he was jittery and never looked comfortable on the court. Same sorta shit happened to Chris Douglas-Roberts, Wesley Johnson, Rodney Carney, and Earl Clark, who are just a few wings who like Nik - had both the skill, athletic ability, and talent to be a good or even great pro player but due to combination of being in bad situations, suffered from an immense lack of confidence, and then coaches who grossly under-utilized them or misused them leading to them having very underwhelming pro careers. Im a hardcore Michigan fan, and absolutely adored Nik when he was in Ann Arbor, really sad he didn't succeed as a pro. But hey, at least he made it there

[@StreetScience92]

His shooting stroke is great. I think he should have gone to GSW or OKC during that period.

[@carlosbryant3524]

Klay Thompson is once in a lifetime people need to stop compairing other players that high when you never seen that type b4

[@willgleason7634]

I just saw nik play on the Grand Rapids Gold G-League team on Valentine’s Day. He scored like 15

[@jamaalsjourney]

Lol kinda crazy to hear Andy get giggly 0:19 then back serious

[@Itachi_Papi]

I’d like to see him make another run in Philly, but thats just me being biased. He reminds me of Korkmaz, he makes you see potential that isn’t really there due to lack of athleticism which can’t really be worked on like shooting or playmaking.

[@hatersgonnahate6322]

As a sixers fan from the dark ages we still love nick saucy

[@TheJrRocky]

As a sixers fan I genuinely hated watching this man play

[@natewoods4566]

Was that Brett Brown quote English?

[@AFNick]

Stauskas flamed out quickly. I thought he would have done better, but getting drafted by the Kings derailed his career like many other top draft picks than ended up in Sactown.

[@Zamppa86]

Well if one ends up playing for the Kings and/or 76ers during 10s then it's quite a high probability that one's career is going downhill.

[@jeffreyng6473]

the chance of a player failing his career increase by 50% if drafted by kings lmao

[@MaxAndersonn]

Zion was the next failed LeBron in the NBA

[@xstriker7356]

Injuries

[@xavierstamp8786]

Nik on Nba 2k was a beast

[@MuswellMunky]

Woulda been different if he got on to the Spurs, Dallas, Utah. Small market teams with excellently run franchises and great coaching and player development. Not the Kings, sadly.

[@charliem1525]

Is that why he sucked on every other team he was on?

[@kumorizora2507]

It clearly wouldn't since he has continued to suck no matter what team he plays for.

[@kaiskajani5305]

Another failed kings draft pick what a surprise #movetoseattle

[@eltruenopai1828]

U should do a video about tj mcconell. What happened to that guy?

[@gerryomo9515]

Nik!!!!! Michigan legend

[@rattlehead54321]

I knew from the beginning when the Kings drafted him that was going to fail, they already had Ben McLemore who was a very similar player and played the same position.

[@se7enzee444]

McLemore is another high lottery pick that failed to live up to the expectation. He's still in the NBA though.

[@jb.4220]

Damn bro I remember him brooo

[@Dominicandude34]

So you're going to not mention that they also received a pick in that trade that turned out to be De'Aaron Fox? I know that the picks they gave up turned out to be Tatum and Langford but it isn't like they got so little in return as you mentioned.

[@puff3890]

Hey can you make a How good is Mullin is I'm kinda interested in him I only new because of the dream team

[@sharoon1351]

It's Lithuania's independence day and Andy drops a vid about Nik Stauskas, who is 75% Lithuanian by ethnicity although he decided to represent Canada, while also mentioning another Lithuanian - Artūras Gudaitis. Coincidence? I think not:DDD

[@codymilliken1523]

Love your videos but the background music needs to change so bad

[@JimC_C]

And now Celtics sign him a 2 year deal. . He score 100 in 2 games. . . Speechless

[@Mmacrossfirekenai]

Stauskas is from my city. I salute him for making it to the league.

[@GhosfFace_AO]

@9:57. I felt that. 😭💀💀💀 you can blame A.I. for all of that. We were ALL trynna be him at one point of our life. 🤣🤣🤣

[@cameroncampbell1638]

Sauce Castillo is still a cold nickname.

[@sarc4sm68]

I remember him and Luke Kennard has similarities from Klay Thompson

[@LeBronjames-zz6ey]

jimmer fredette

[@MasterNinjaOfShadows]

Do a video of aussies in the nba

[@verygoodboy2688]

I was just thinking about this dude the other day

[@TheAnanaki]

Bruh. The next Clay plays for the Pacers. His name is Chris Duarte.

[@atlrunner1397]

Did you make this video cause of that clip that’s been trending of the Kings trying to decide between him and Elfrid Payton? 😂😂😂

[@percentsteam5811]

Nik Stuaskas spent this past summer practicing at my hs.

[@jctslice]

He never could play defense, too cocky, and was a black hole on offense

[@Matt-xt4rp]

Nik, Jimmer, Doug McDermott in the same team is like an Offensive heaven, but Defensive hell lol

[@afanasibushmanov7463]

His shooting stroke looks so good though. It actually reminds me of Curry's more than Thompson's, but for whatever reason he doesn't make them.

[@se7enzee444]

Klay has better shooting form than Steph's. The reason he isn't making them because of his mental. Klay's tough and cold blooded.

[@afanasibushmanov7463]

@@se7enzee444 it's more textbook than Curry's, but better is subjective. Curry's form is the most effortless looking from I've ever seen and he gets it off so quickly. Klay's form is more textbook than Stauskas' form as well.

[@XChronicHash]

NICK ROCKS!

[@adidasboy6614]

Arturas Gudaitis is a monster in Euroleague

[@landxxx1]

Gudaitis is playing good on Euroleauge and its not Luka Metrovic but Luka Mitrovic who also plays in Euroleauge and is Decent .Also about Gudaitis he was really near NBA

[@brucelau2023]

And the Kings still didn’t fucking know what to do with this .. seriously at #8? 😂😂😂😂🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@reidb6327]

Bruh stop reminding me 🤣

[@KH-ou4st]

Bc they refuse to stop being the Kings

[@hecksters423]

Twitter users and NBA scouting reports have one thing in common: Bad takes

[@ShadowCeltic]

Cocky is good to have but don't let it affect your play or teammates around you.

[@2kVue123]

Nik Rocks! 😂

[@iAmAyoDigital]

How was the “Best player in the draft” Jokic? Embiid was in that draft‼️

[@shobosmontecillo8027]

Thats why scouting reports are questionable? It is really up to the player how to manage himself.

[@realmontana6838]

Ben Mcelmore got a resurgence with Houston when he left Sacramento Kings

[@Bigpapiwampi]

Attitude is such an underrated stat.

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Jaylen Brown next video Andy Hoops 🙏🙏🙏

[@athanasioskosmas3915]

Can you do a video about Giannis?

[@mcray0309]

7:57 Shout out reshaun holmes and roco

[@mistyname3266]

uh oh I accidentally mixed my ballin sauce with a brick